Shark
Cage Diving in Cape Town, South Africa R1200 per person
Downhill Adventures
(established in 1995) offers daily shark diving &sighting tours off Gansbaai, a mere
stone-throw away from the most southern tip of the African
Continent and about 2 hours from Cape Town.
Dyer Island has become known as one of only
two unique areas in the world, where the chances to view the
great white shark, rises exceptionally high.
A colony of approximately 40000 Cape Fur Seals inhabits the
smaller Island (Geyser Rock). Other wildlife species such
as Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, African Penguins, whales
and dolphins are also likely to be sighted.
Once anchored in the channel,
we make use of a securely designed 6-man steel cage,
which floats on the surface, with divers no more than 1m below
the surface. Experienced divers are able to dive on scuba
while inexperienced divers are able to enjoy the same experience
on snorkel. Snorkeling is equally comfortable and safe. Surface viewing
White sharks are indeed surface feeders, providing brilliant
surface viewing from the safety of the shark-viewing deck
of the boat. Our shark handlers are trained to bring the sharks
close-up against the side of the boat, with the head and the
jaws clearly visible. So, those not wanting to go in the cage
will still get to see these amazing creatures up close.
Easy to use.
The good thing about the diving cage is that you don't need
to know how to scuba dive, snorkeling will do for most dives
(not in False Bay). Shark cages have tubes going up to the
boat, so divers simply suck on the tube to breathe fresh air.
Video and DVD footage
of your adventure
Capture this once-in-a-lifetime personal experience on film
and take it home to show to your friends and family. We offer
the services of a professional underwater videographer who
is highly experienced in this field. Your personal experience
will be captured on a high quality video / DVD (above and
underwater) and a copy will be made available to you after
the tour at a minimal cost.
Transportation
to the location from Cape Town & surrounds
The 2 hour journey is a great opportunity to take in the sights
of the Western Cape. Travelling over the dramatic Sir Lowries
Pass and through Hermanus- the Whale Watching
Capital of South Africa- there is plenty to see along the
way.
We have more than adequate Insurance
Cover which includes; R20 million Public Liability, R20 million
Passenger Liability on each bus, R5 million Passenger liability
on our boat and Personal Accident Insurance on all our bus
drivers.
We hold valid Road Carrier Permits on our buses, and our drivers
are all Public Drivers Permit holders.
Spending
Time With the Great White Sharks- How long?
The shark cage takes upto 5 people at once and with 10-15
people on-board, each person gets several 15-30 min dives
during the day. Trips often last 4-5 hours with the first
hour spent finding the sharks and attracting them to the boat
with bait. It of course depends on how long everyone wants
to spend in the cage, but those who want to can get plenty
of time viewing underwater. Who Can Dive With Great
White Sharks?
Everyone!! We try not to use scuba equipment so much these
days, as we find that the noise and bubbles can deter the
sharks- and we know you want to see them right up close!!
So even those of you without any diving certification can
still enjoy this awesome experience. Viewing Great White
Sharks
For those who aren't keen on smelling a shark's breath, but
are still interested in seeing them, there are plenty of shark
viewing opportunities on the boat. There are special platforms
you can sit on that provide excellent photo opportunities
of the sharks especially as the crew are "chumming"
and "baiting" them. Since Great White Sharks are
surface feeders you can get a good look at the 16 rows of
teeth. (info:about.com). Best Time to Dive with
Great White Sharks
Winter is the best time to dive with sharks from May to October.
Although getting to see the sharks is not guaranteed, the
success rate is very high, around 95%. During winter months
you may see 10-20 different sharks in a single day!!
The sharks are still around during the summer months but not
in such dense numbers. (info:about.com). Attracting the sharks and Chumming
We don’t chum any more, its now a highly regulated system-
each boat is allowed only 25Kg of bait- normally around 15
large tuna heads which they throw on ropes to attract the
sharks. We try not to let them take the bait as once its all
used up, the boat has to return. Certification and Operator Code
of Conduct
We are in possession of a valid White Shark Cage Diving Operators
Permit (issued by the South African Government), enabling
us to work within the Dyer Island nature reserve area (copy
of permit available upon request). Only long-standing operators
who comply with certain safety regulations and code of conduct
are entitled to this permit. All our facilities are closely
inspected by authorities on an annual basis, ensuring maximum
safety for all our guests. Crew
Each crewmember is highly qualified in his/her specific field
and together have more than 15 years experience working with
great white sharks. Crew qualifications consist of; A1 (1)
commercially licensed skippers, level 3 Medics; Satour Registered
specialised tour guides; Dive Masters and qualified shark
handlers.
All our crew have done SAMSA compliant Fire-Fighters and Life-Raft
Courses and our skippers are licensed with ICASA (independent
Commission Authority of SA), as well as SAMSA (SA Maritime
and Safety Authority). A step-by-step emergency flow chart
is available inside the cabin of our vessel, at all times.
Shark
Diving- the Cage & Boat
The Boat
For our Shark Cage Diving in Cape Town, we use one of the
largest, most modern and luxurious boats available in the
shark diving industry- a newly built stable catamaran, measuring
11 x 3.8 meters and therefore offering the ultimate stability
at sea.
Although she is licensed to carry a maximum of 30 passengers,
we do not take more than 25 clients per tour. This not only
ensures maximum comfort, but also ensures maximum cage diving
time for all divers. Our boat offers state-of-the-art facilities,
which includes; sophisticated and securely structured 5-6-man
steel cage, spacious cabin, large upper shark-viewing deck,
sunbathing area, private lockable toilet, fresh water showers,
private restroom with bed, fresh drinking water, wet deck
and separate dry-deck for maximum comfort.
She is fully licensed to SA safety standards and is equipped
with 2 radios, radar equipment, navigation equipment, depth
finder, echo sounder, medical first aid kit (including oxygen
an fluid replacement), current safety equipment, life vests
for all passengers and a 50-man life raft.
Our boat, cage and life raft are inspected on an annual basis,
ensuring maximum safety for all our passengers
Able to hold several people.
Cages are built to hold two, four or even six people, so you
can get to experience the sharks with the whole family. Close to the surface.
The cage actually floats and doesn't go deep at all since
sharks are surface feeders. It's therefore easy to keep in
touch with the boat crew and you can always get out of the
cage quickly if the adventure becomes a little too exciting.
(info:about.com) The Diving Cage Rodney Fox, an Australian diver, has been credited
with inventing the shark cage. Rodney became shark bait while
spear fishing in Australia. After getting sewn back to his
original shape, he turned his attention to the study of the
Great White Shark and to avoid being attacked again, designed
the first under water observation cage. The diving cage is .....
Safe.The diving cage is specially designed to withstand the
bite of a Great White (although they haven't ever attacked
a cage to date) while still allowing the diver a good view
of the shark. The diving cages are made from 12mm galvanized
steel.
THE
TRIP INCLUDES
Breakfast, light lunch, snacks, soft drinks, mineral water,
towels and all the diving gear on the boat and ventures into
shark alley to view a colony of 50,000 cape fur seals (weather
permitting).
Our boat is the most
modern and luxurious of the cage diving vessels. She has space
for 25 passengers, a 6-man steel cage and a life raft which
holds 50 people. She also has a huge deck space, large observation
deck, toilet and changing area.
Non-divers can also
enjoy viewing from the boat as this can at times be more spectacular
than the sightings from the cage.
GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH A GREAT
WHITE SHARK !!
Shop 10 Overbeek Building - Cnr Kloof, Long & Orange Street - Cape Town - South Africa - 8001
